Petition Against the New Meal Plan-Miami University 2016

My son would almost never eat a buffet meal so this plan sounds absolutely insane!

Just have a cheaper minimum meal plan option please.

I am the parent of a Miami student. The new plan does not allow for students who do not eat at the buffets. There needs to be a better option within the plan for students who eat mainly at the a la carte locations. Forcing students who prefer the declining balance option to add approx. $3000 per semester is not taking into consideration the fact that many students do not even spend near that amount for a entire school year with the current declining balance plan. And yes, this is taking into consideration the current $1625 fee and the fact that there will be no discounts next year. This will leave a huge amount of meal money that will default back to Miami at graduation. As a family who will depend greatly on student loans, the idea of taking out a loan (and paying interest!) for food that isn't even going to be eaten is just ridiculous. Please rethink this plan and include options for students who eat at a la carte locations, such as lower amounts to choose from for the declining balance option or a certain number of swipes for a la carte options.

Having spent many years as an executive within a company that provides food service for higher education, I completely agree with the position within the petition. The "mark ups" on the food service plans in higher education are extremely high and should not subsidize other departments within the university. The university makes millions of dollars in profit on these food plans. Thank you for supporting our students.

The price of a college education is already extremely pricey without any guarantee for a career after graduation. The students do not need added expenses on top of not having flexibility.

Holly Searl Hurst--Parent and Alum

Parent.

Administration. Please develop a meal plan that focuses on the students and addresses their concerns! Buffet locations are inconvenient and do not address the habits of busy students! Transparency is not in creating a good service plan that acknowledges students will pay for buffet meals they will not eat and do not carryover! Focus on the population needs, trends!!

There is no love and honor in this meal plan. President Hodge, it's time to step in and do the right thing for these students.

Terrible alternative- already expensive meals would become ridiculous- esp if student wants or needs to eat in Armstrong.

This new plan penalizes students for using the facilities and the options you (the university administration) created

This plan is another example of making things more difficult than they have to be. My suggestion is to just make the billing of the meals work like a simple debit card. Price the meals at fair market value like any other restaurant or grocery, the prices should actually be reasonable because since Miami has a captive audience there is a certain amount of both guaranteed income and buying power that independent businesses do not have. Worry about feeding students and not making it some sort of experience with fancy or themed restaurants. The fees that have been extorted from the students, like the $1625 diplomat fee, and techniques such as marking things up then claiming to give a discount, which at best made things go down to the price they should have been in the first place didn't make anyone feel like they were actually getting any kind of deal. The "discount" was especially bothersome to people who were visiting like alumni and potential students, outside contractors, and commuting students who didn't have a meal plan and therefore had to pay the inflated pre-discount price to get a meal on campus. The fact that people are protesting and petitioning this should be proof enough that there's a need to fix the meal plan. How bout showing students some Love and Honor by keeping them happy, well fed, and it wouldn't hurt them to have a little change left in their pockets. A new plan is a win for a student paying their own way, or a parent who is trying to buy the best experience they can for their kid(s).

Parent

parent

Parent

I am a parent of a next-year junior who will be living on campus.

The only thing I don't like is the fact that buffet swipes don't roll over. If they roll over and are actually representative of the price of the buffet, that could work. Another option would be to just keep the declining balance for everything, get rid of the diplomat fee, get rid of the "discounts", and charge the food for the price it is worth.

Parent

This new meal plan is completely unrealistic and I haven't talked to a person yet that feels it is in the best interest of the student.

Parent of a freshman. Not happy at all with the proposed plan changes.